Random Catch Up Today

On Saturday my family gathered at Greenwood Cemetery to remember my Aunt Shirley .  It was so good to see family and remember my aunt. 

After wards some of us went out for lunch.  My sweet Mom misses her sisters.

A Decor Project

Some of my readers remember that earlier this summer I was looking for old books with blue or green covers.  The local thrift store had their half price sale in August and I finished my project using a lot of 12 and 1/2 cent books.  I felt like it looked a bit dark so I bought a lamp for a dollar and installed it behind.  It gives off some pretty back light and makes the gold on the bindings pop.  Thank you to everyone that left books on my doorstep.  I loved the wood rounds that I had in the unused fireplace but I also knew that spiders were camping behind the wood and it was time for a change.

Of course, now Hubby want to read the book on the bottom.

Trailer Restoration

Oh Ava Jean! Hubby and I got home from camping and we felt a bit overwhelmed by Ava so we listed her on Craigslist.  We felt as though we should maybe step back from so many projects.

Hubby was working so I took care of the ad. Please, please, please, for pete's sake, the next time I want to place an ad on Craigslist remind me NOT to do it. If I ever want to sell something, please  remind me to put it at the end of the driveway with a free sign or bring it to Goodwill or something. Actually, anything but Craigslist.  

Oh, I've bought things on Craigslist but selling is different.

When I put in the ad that the trailer needs a total restoration and needs to be rewired, I am not kidding.  You cannot buy it and live in it tomorrow if it is a gutted trailer.

I had so many emails, calls, offers of hundreds of dollars more than the asking price if they could just come right now with cash in hand, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Long story short, though it may be too late for that as I have rambled on here.  We are keeping Ava Jean and plan to restore her. I still love her and my design for her.  Hubby is still good with restoring her, we were just temporarily overwhelmed.  The three days she was listed on Craigslist are three days of my life that I will never get back.

Pioneer Woman and Kassie

Kassie and I have our tickets to meet Ree Drummond in Seattle. I think Kassie is Ree's mini me.  A gorgeous red head moves from the city to the country because she is in love with a rancher/farmer.  Yep, same song, second verse.  This trip to meet Ree is just the beginning because Kassie and I are going to Oklahoma to The Mercantile someday.

Oh Bo, I love you. Yes, the ring did end up in his mouth. It was retrieved and I hope Max doesn't try that trick again.

I love this picture, it was just after Max got the ring back.

Back to School

School starts for me tomorrow. Or not. Since I substitute teach I have no idea what day will be my first day.  I bought some new back to school clothes and my bag is loaded.

I'm ready!

That's all for now, and honestly, that's enough.  Enjoy your day!

Okay Oklahoma

We're home. Home sweet home, dirty home with mountains of laundry home but nonetheless, home. Hubby and I had a great time. We had not flown without boys since Max was in diapers. Sometimes we drive away but don't usually fly away. It's nice to be in the airport with out boys. I'm just sayin'.

Okay, My Oklahoma Observations:

Oklahoma Sooners are BiG fans. By that I mean they love their team and many, many of those fans are BiG guys. Doubt me? Have dinner at a Cracker Barrel and watch them eat. I ordered the same dinner as the young man at the next table except he had his dinner with dumplin's, macaroni & cheese and mashed potatoes.

Oklahoma food is good and plentiful but mostly we noticed it is salty. By the third night I begged Hubby to take me home before my feet exploded.

Oklahoma is windy. All. The. Time.

Oklahoma speed limits are fast. The downtown area was 40-45 MPH, our downtown is 25 mph. Okay, who drives the speed limit? No one! I had to keep asking Hubby to go around again because he had to drive so fast or be rear ended in traffic and I had to look at all those pretty old houses.

Oklahoma people are polite and friendly. Please call me ma'am from now on, I liked it a lot.

We had a nice hotel with a super government rate however; I did not get an upgrade and after two nights of sharing a double bed, Hubby left me for the other bed. He still loves me but that bed was tiny.

On our way home, on Saturday we ran into Sam at the Dallas airport. Our plane was late and our departure gate to Seattle was the same gate for Sam's departure to San Antonio. It was fun to see him and his friends again.

Sam has some cool mates. These guys are devoted to doing well, some have devotions with Sam, some will be lifelong friends and many of them said they read the blog. Some are new U.S. citizens, some are going on to complete the medic program at Fort Sam Houston. I am devoted to praying for each of these soldiers.

A super trip with lots of great memories. Picture is of Sam with the streamers that his platoon won during basic training. His platoon was the honor platoon.

Now Sam is on to reception and then medic training in January. As for me, I am in the laundry room where I belong.

Family Day

Family Day was a glimpse of what our guys have to do in the U.S. Army to get trained. We watched skits, saw the drill sergeants in action. We watched two young men sworn in as US citizens, it was pretty emotional. I had never watched a citizenship take place. And then finally we got Sam to ourselves.

After lunch we just relaxed in the hotel room. I brought chex party mix and Chelsea sent peanut butter ball along with us. Sam could IM, facebook, and reconnect with the world, relax, and visit with us.
It was so good to see him. He looks so grownup. Now, off to graduation!

The Heart of America

Hubby and I spent the day driving around Oklahoma. We stopped at antique stores and thrift shops. My favorite was Antiques Adventures, a mom and pop run establishment with tons of treasures and a clean smell. We had to kiss a lot of frogs before we found royalty. Holly, you would love Antique Adventures.

I scored on the shiney brites and vintage tinsel. I am just so happy with my treasures, the whole time I was shopping I had to remind myself that we are flying home.

After thrifting and seeing the country we came across a strip mall. Hubby casually says, "what's a Hobby Lobby?" I start jumping around in the car because those Southern girl bloggers are always bragging about what they found at Hobby Lobby. We should have driven to Oklahoma with a U-Haul. After that exercise in self control we had lunch at Atlanta Bread.

Hubby and I are having a good time. The people of Oklahoma are so polite and friendly and there are some gorgeous fixer upper homes. We could live here except for the WIND. It's always breezey in Oklahoma.

Last night I talked to Sam on the phone. He had to go to sick bay first thing this morning. Please pray for a quick fix and that he will be able to have family day and graduation as planned.

*Edited to add: Sam is doing better,got meds and is on for tomorrow. We are thankful and relieved.